If you’re looking into whether you can change criminal defense attorneys in the middle of a criminal proceeding, you most likely already have legal representation.
And yet, something doesn’t quite add up.
You may not know exactly what stage your case is at.
You may have received a court ruling and no one has clearly explained what it means.
Or perhaps you have the feeling that the proceeding is moving forward while you barely understand what is really happening.
Many defendants don’t know what investigative procedures are being conducted, what evidence actually exists against them, or what might happen in the next phase of the process. This lack of information creates uncertainty and the feeling of being completely sidelined from decisions that can directly affect their freedom, their criminal record, or their professional future.
That’s why one of the most frequently asked questions on the internet is this:
Can you change criminal defense attorneys in the middle of a proceeding?
The answer is yes.
The law allows changing attorneys at any moment in a criminal proceeding.
But before doing so, it’s important to understand how that change works, at what point it can be made, and what real effects it has on the defense.
Is it legal to change attorneys during a criminal process?
Yes. In Spain you can change criminal defense attorneys at any phase of the proceeding.
It doesn’t matter if the case is in preliminary proceedings, in an abbreviated procedure, in the investigation phase, or even if the trial has already been scheduled.
The right to
Can I change criminal defense attorneys before trial?
Can you change from a court-appointed attorney to a private one?
How much does a criminal defense attorney cost?
This is another of the most common questions when a person considers changing their defense.
The reality is that there is no single price for a criminal defense attorney. Each criminal proceeding is different and fees depend mainly on two factors: the complexity of the case and the responsibility the attorney assumes.
It’s not the same to intervene in:
- A fast-track trial or a trial for a minor offense.
- A case for drug trafficking or crimes against public health.
- A proceeding for fraud, embezzlement, or money laundering.
- An investigation for corporate crimes or economic criminal law.
- A proceeding for sex crimes.
- Or an extradition proceeding.
Each of these
What happens if I'm not satisfied with my criminal defense attorney?
The importance of having a specialized criminal defense attorney
Criminal Law encompasses very different areas. That’s why, when a person decides to change their defense, one of the first issues they should consider is whether the attorney who will take on the case is truly specialized in that type of criminal proceeding.
It’s not the same to defend a case for drug trafficking, analyze an investigation for money laundering, intervene in a proceeding for fraud or embezzlement, or study a complex case related to corporate crimes or economic criminal law.
Nor is the strategy needed in proceedings for sex crimes comparable, where the evaluation of personal testimony is usually decisive given the responsibility of facing sentences of more than ten years in prison, or in extradition proceedings, where rules of judicial cooperation between different countries come into play.
Each of these areas requires specific technical knowledge, procedural experience, and a real ability to analyze evidence and build a solid defense strategy.
That’s why many people seeking to change their defense begin their search on the internet using very specific terms, such as drug trafficking attorney, crimes against public health attorney,
Abogado penalista en Madrid (Graduado en Derecho y ADE con Máster de Acceso a la Abogacía), experto en procedimientos complejos y técnicos en Derecho Penal. Cuenta con títulos como el Curso de DerechoPenal Avanzado impartido por magistrados del Tribunal Supremo en el Iltre. Colegio de Abogacía de Madrid.